06/05/2026
CFHI would like to congratulate this month’s Alumni Feature, Ritika Surabhi (Medical University of South Carolina, M.D. Candidate, Class of 2028), who was recently awarded 3rd place for her project, Sustaining Breastfeeding Support for LBW Infants in La Paz, Bolivia, in the MUSC Global Health Poster session. Ritika completed a CFHI Global Health Practicum in La Paz, Bolivia, in March 2026 and was precepted by Dr. Cecilia Uribe, CFHI Bolivia Medical Director.
“I treasure my time in La Paz, Bolivia, and will carry it with me as I continue my education toward becoming a healthcare provider. Beyond learning foundational medical knowledge in a clinical setting, I gained something much deeper: an understanding of how essential it is to care for patients within the context of their individual lives and circumstances. Whether a patient lives in a penthouse in the city or in a rural area three hours from the nearest major hospital, their environment profoundly shapes their health, access to care, and outcomes.
This experience taught me to intentionally consider a patient’s socioeconomic and geographic realities in their care, especially for women who are pregnant or new mothers, for whom these factors can be especially pivotal. I left with a stronger sense of responsibility to see each patient through the lens of their lived experience.
I am deeply grateful for the friendliness and acceptance I received from the staff I worked with in La Paz and to CFHI for providing an experience that not only shaped my clinical perspective but also confirmed my desire to dedicate my career to global health.”
-Ritika Surabhi
➡️Looking for a meaningful capstone or practicum experience in global health?
CFHI’s Global Health Practicums provide graduate and professional-level students with structured opportunities to apply their skills in real-world settings. Working alongside experienced preceptors and local partners, participants contribute to sustainable, locally led projects in areas such as program evaluation, capacity building, quality improvement, health communications, and public health research.
Available in virtual, hybrid, and place-based formats! Learn more here: cfhi.org/practicums
